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Electronics Technicians Association

US-based certification organization

  • 6 min read
  • 5 chapters

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Through Not-for-profit organization, Electronics and Renewable energy

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History

In 1965 the U.S. Labor Department, Bureau of Apprenticeship & Training (BAT) instigated a jobs program in cooperation with NEA (National Electronics Association). Local school systems, local TV association members and USDL worked together on an 8,000-hour apprenticeship program aimed at solving the labor shortage problem while finding new vocations for those put out of work by modern technology. This new program would reward trainees but would not cover experienced technicians. Because of this, the Certified Electronics Technician (CET) program was created.

In 1970 a group of technicians decided to form an organization to promote the CET program and the electronics industry as a whole. This organization would be a division of NEA called the International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (ISCET).

In the mid-1970s NEA and an organization called NATESA merged to form the National Electronic Service Dealers Association (NESDA) with ISCET remaining as a division. Due to a power struggle within the organization, ETA was incorporated in Indiana on November 14, 1978, by a group of former NESDA members and officers. Among those were Richard "Dick" Glass and Ron Crow, two of the original founders of the ISCET CET program and the only administrators at that time. This made it easy to continue the CET program with the newly formed organization. Their goal was to create an association that represented the technician instead of the dealer.

In 1993 ETA became a COLEM for the FCC Commercial Radio License program and offers professionals the chance to sit for seven different FCC commercial licenses at ETA test sites including the general radiotelephone operator license.

In 1996 ETA became accredited by the newly formed International Certification Accreditation Council (ICAC) and was one of the first certification organizations in the electronics industry to establish a maintenance program for certified professionals.

In 2004, ETA helped create the Certified Service Center (CSC) program whose mission is to encourage professionalism with the service industry. The Certified Service Center designation is presented to those service facilities that show they have a percentage of technicians and service managers certified, utilize a code of conduct, provide a service warranty and insurance coverage, adhere to zoning laws, use industry-approved equipment, and provide a clean and accessible facility.

From the 1980s to the present, ETA has continued to expand their certification offerings to fill knowledge and skills assessment gaps in technology. ETA works with many different educators, businesses, and trainers to create vendor-neutral accredited certifications. ETA certifications are used by many different sectors including secondary and post-secondary schools, training businesses, corporations, government agencies, and the U.S. military.

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